Adopting a pet is wonderful. Not only are you helping
a dog or cat in need, but at the same time finding a
devoted animal companion. This is a long-term
commitment and should not to be taken lightly. You’ll
need to be prepared to provide food, training, care and
attention. Be prepared to deal with a pet that may shed
or chew / scratch furniture. Yearly veterinary cost
should also be expected.

Pet Adoption Myths

There are many myths associated with adopting animals that prevent potential pet-owners from
considering shelter animals. One myth is: you can’t find adoptable puppies or kittens, while in reality
shelters have pets of all ages and sizes waiting to find a forever home. Another myth is that there
are no purebred dogs or cats available for adoption. The truth is 25% of shelter animals are purebreds.
In addition, there are many breed-specific rescue groups that work to match up the right owner with
the perfect purebred pet. Finally, many believe falsely that shelter animals have been given up
because they’re un-trainable, while in fact many healthy, sweet, smart animals have been surrendered
to shelters not due to their dispositions but due to situations out of the pets’ control. Many pets
adopted through shelters and rescues are spayed or neutered, behavior tested, and microchipped.

How You Can Help

if you’re not ready to take on the fulltime responsibility
of pet adoption, consider fostering a homeless pet.
That means caring for a shelter dog or at for a limited
period of time versus taking on the fulltime commitment
and responsibility of adoption. It’s a very good deed,
because fostering helps free up space in shelters for
more needy animals. Shelters usually supply pet food
and supplies like litter and bowls and will also compensate for any medical care costs. Some shelters even have educational programs on caring for foster pets.